The Power of God

May 29, 2009

~Denise Grant

 

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:10

 

If God is all-powerful, why does He allow bad things to happen in His world?

 

How would your life change if you truly leaned on and trusted God’s goodness and power?

 

Have you experienced the power of God in your life?

 

     When you are strong in your abilities, you are tempted to do God’s work on your own – sadly, that leads to sinful pride. However,  when you are weak, and you allow God to fill you with His power, then you are stronger than you could ever be on your own.

 

     Since we are locked into time, unable to see beyond today, we cannot know the reasons for everything that happens. As a result, we’re often forced to choose between anger and trust.  We sin when we angrily ask, “If God is in control, how could He let this happen?”  “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2 NIV God’s power is a strong, prevailing force that cannot be withstood by His enemies.

 

God uses “cracked pots” to minister: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all –surpassing power is from God and not from us” 2 Corinthians 4:7.  God uses people just like you and me to share His Good News message. Are you willing to allow yourself to be used of Him? The light and power that shines within you as a Christ-follower – is held in a perishable container - your weak body. God’s focus is not on this perishable container but on its priceless contents. Isn’t it amazing that such a valuable message of salvation has been entrusted to us frail and fallible human beings?

 

God leads through humility: “but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Philippians 2:7.  In God’s desire to have a relationship with you, He doesn’t boss you around, but serves you. Without ceasing to be God, Jesus became a human being. He did not give up His deity to become human, but set aside the right to His glory. In submission to His Father, He limited His power and knowledge as He voluntarily assumed a human body and human nature, but making His humanity unique was His freedom from sin. As He humbled Himself in serving us, Jesus showed the very character of God.

 

God sacrifices Himself: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45.  His death released you from your slavery to sin. That is why Christ died. He would have willingly sacrificed everything even if you were the only person ever born. He gladly accepts anyone who comes to Him in faith.

 

God is at work in the invisible: “You children are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4.  God does not always announce His power with a fireworks display or other impressive signs and wonders. But where life matters the absolute most - in the spirit realm - God has already won and assures you of the victory you need to live with Him forever. Evil is frightening and obviously much stronger than you are. However, God is stronger yet, and will one day conquer all evil.

God Will…

 

Strengthen you – “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak,” Isaiah 40:29 

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

 

Give you victory – “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4

 

Protect you – “You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.” Psalm 18:35

 

     You can live with confidence because God’s strength will protect and sustain you in all circumstances.

 

Father God,

     I need Your power in my life right now, and I’m grateful that You reveal Your might in such surprising and wonderful ways. Help me to use the power You give me each day, to share Your love and Good News with others. Remind me today that You are near. In Jesus’name. Amen.

Denise Grant - Just "clay" in the Master Potter's hands.

 

May it be said when the sun sets on my life that many of my dreams came true, I was important in the lives of others and I consistently and faithfully served Christ.  In the end, the last is all that matters. 

The Lord’s Prayer In Hell, by Col. Leo Thorsness

My Friends, May we all be as courageous in the face of pure evil, so that one day, we too, may boldly proclaim, "We won - they lost" !! Hallelujah - share this with all you can. There is definite power in numbers. I love you all, Denise


“…deliver us from evil…” (Matthew 6:13)
Surviving Hell
Col. Thorsness tells his story in Surviving Hell: A POW's Journey
On April 30, 1967, Leo Thorsness was shot down over North Vietnam. He was held and tortured for six years. Today's devotional comes from Col. Thorsness' memoirs, Surviving Hell.
The first Sunday at the Hanoi Hilton, someone said, "Let's have church service." Good idea, we all agreed. One POW volunteered to lead the service and we started gathering in the other end of the long, rectangular cell.. No sooner had we gathered than an English-speaking Vietnamese officer who worked as an interrogator burst into the cell with a dozen armed guards. Ned Shuman, our Senior Ranking Officer, went to the officer and said there would not be a problem, we were just going to have a short church service. The response was unyielding: we were not allowed to gather into groups larger than three persons and absolutely could not have a church service.
During the next few days we all grumbled that we should not have backed down in our intention to have a church service and ought to do it the coming Sunday. Toward the end of the week, Ned stepped forward and said, "Are we really committed to having church Sunday?"
There was a murmuring of the assent throughout the cell. Ned said, "No, I want to know person by person if you are really committed to holding church."
We all knew the implications of our answer. If we went ahead with the plan, some would pay the price -- starting with Ned himself because he was the SRO. He went around the cell pointing to each of us individually.
"Leo, are you committed?"
"Yes."
When the 42nd man said “yes,” it was unanimous. We had 100% commitment to hold church the next Sunday. At that instant, Ned knew he would end up in the torture cells. It was different from previous Sunday. We now had a goal and we were committed. We only needed to develop a plan.
Sunday morning came and we knew they would be watching us again. Once more, we gathered in the far end of the cell. As soon as we moved together, the interrogator and guards burst through the door. Ned stepped forward and said there wouldn't be a problem, we were just going to hold a quiet, 10-minute church service and then we would spread back out in the cell. As expected, they grabbed him and hauled him off for torture.
Our plan unfolded. The second ranking man, the new SRO, stood, walked to the center of the cell and in a clear, firm voice said, "Gentlemen," our signal to stand, "the Lord's Prayer." We got perhaps halfway through the prayer when the guards grabbed the SRO and hauled him out the door.
As planned, the number three SRO stood, walked to the center of the cell and said, "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer." We had gotten about to "Thy kingdom come" before the guards grabbed him. Immediately, the number four SRO stood, "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer."
I have never heard five or six words from the Lord's Prayer recited so loudly or so reverently. The interrogator was shouting, "Stop, stop!" but we drowned him out. The guards were now hitting POWs with gun butts and the cell was in chaos.
The number five ranking officer was way back in the corner and took his time moving toward the center of the cell. (I was number seven, and not particularly anxious for him to hurry.) But just before he got to the center of the area, the cell became pin-drop quiet.
In Vietnamese, the interrogator spat out something to the guards. They grabbed the number five SRO and they all left, locking the cell door behind them. The number six SRO began, "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer." This time we finished it.
Five courageous officers were tortured, but I think they believed it was worth it. From that Sunday on until we came home, we held a church service. We won. They lost. Forty-two men in prison pajamas followed Ned’s lead. I know I will never see a better example of pure, raw leadership or will ever pray with a better sense of the meaning of those words.
This Week
Thank the Lord for the freedom we have to recite His Word without fear and for the brave men and women who continue to fight for this freedom.
Prayer
“Father, help me to not take our freedom for granted. Be with those who have sacrificed so much to protect our country and our liberty. Intercede on behalf of those who are in harm’s way and bring peace to our world so that everyone can worship openly and freely.”
Hear Col. Thorsness’ story this Monday as he joins James and Betty Robison on LIFE Today. Story used with permission from Encounter Books.

Denise Grant - Just "clay" in the Master Potter's hands.

May it be said when the sun sets on my life that many of my dreams came true, I was important in the lives of others and I consistently and faithfully served Christ. In the end, the last is all that matters.